Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are trying to find out what happened after an adult black bear was killed and dumped near a trash enclosure in a Snowmass Village subdivision.

Officers believe someone killed the adult sow Friday evening before taking the carcass to the trash enclosure in the Two Creeks neighborhood overnight, according to a press release. The dead bear was found and reported Saturday morning by trash haulers, said CPW spokesman Mike Porras.

CPW investigators are pursuing leads from evidence gathered at the scene and have performed a necropsy to determine the cause of death, although Porras declined to comment on the specific cause of death due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Officials are asking the public for any information that may lead to the individual or individuals responsible.

“Killing a bear and abandoning the carcass is a serious offense,” district wildlife manager Kevin Wright said in the press release. “However, the person who did this still has the opportunity to do the right thing turn and themselves in.”

Porras said that a voluntary confession could lead to leniency when wildlife officers assess penalties.

There is no spring bear-hunting season, Porras noted.

The bear in question had not been tagged or otherwise previously identified by CPW, Porras said, although bears are awake and active in the Aspen and Snowmass area. Last week, wildlife officers had to put down a bear that was caught breaking into homes around Aspen.

No potential detail concerning the Snowmass bear carcass incident is too insignificant to be reported to CPW, Porras said.

“Sometimes the smallest detail is the missing puzzle piece,” he said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call CPW’s Glenwood Springs office at 970 947-2920. To remain anonymous, call Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648. Rewards are available if the information leads to a citation.